anything to back up these rumors that motion stocks will ditch the remjet layer?

Robin Phillips · April 22

I've seen a few rumblings online that kodak is moving to remove the remjet layer entirely from its motion line of film stocks (both on fb and reddit). While someone posted screencaps of what appeared to be a technical document onto fb, they wouldnt actually post the full document or link to it from a kodak source.

does anyone know whats going on? is this a weird rumor thats starting to spread, or is kodak actually eliminating the remjet layer?

Aapo Lettinen · April 22

If true, it sounds like they are trying to make it easier to shoot stills on the MP films. Can't figure out other reason why they would remove remjet as most movie cameras have shiny parts on pressure plate and would cause extra issues with them

Tyler Purcell · April 22

They've been working on it for years.

Remjet is a big problem because it means MP and still film are basically an entirely different product. Without Remjet, you can process both ECN-2 and C41 without much consequence. This would mean one string to make all films. It would also mean still only emulsions, could be used in MP cameras (proper perforating) which means more cross pollination between 35mm stocks.

I see this as someone in their MP team wanting to keep their product alive and negotiating with corporate. I know the guys in CA have done a shit ton of work to keep MP prices down and keep it even existing. Corporate wants to raise MP prices to still prices per foot, which would basically end MP as we know it today. Possibly the way they determined to fix this, is to simply change the emulsion to lower cost, a great way would be to keep the emulsions all the same.

The new anti-halation layer supposedly doesn't work well, in initial testing people are complaining about lots of halation especially on the lower speed stocks, where there is so much light bouncing of the pressure plate. One of my friends is doing a test this week, let's see what he says.

It would be easy to fix cameras, the pressure plates would need to be DLC coated. It would not be difficult OR very expensive. The thickness is the only real problem as we would not want to upset that. DLC can be made black AND non-reflective if necessary. It's also very slippery so it would work great as an anti-friction device as well. 16mm cameras may not be as effected, as many already have black pressure plates. Where I'm worried this MAY actually rase prices AND cause people to back away from film, I see it as a means to an end for Kodak, at a time where the cost of goods is going to skyrocket. I have seen the writing on the wall for a few years now, so I've been divesting in film personally and buying Digital equipment so I can keep making films when Kodak finally raises prices to a point I can no longer participate.

Robin Phillips · April 22

well if it opened up a world where you could get motion runs of just about any stills film, that would be pretty incredible. though if tons of cameras/mags need modification, thats certainly something thats a bit worrying given how few technicians are still in that game. seems like theres a decent chance kodak is playing with fire. but if they have people at corporate who think motion would continue sales at stills prices... yoish...

John Rizzo · April 23

Yes that is true, so far on the east coast 3 major movies are shooting it in 35mm.

According to Kodak they built into the emulsion an additional layer of Silver to take the rem jets place.

"The Drama" which rapped 2 months ago

Spielberg's new movie currently shooting

and

"No One Cares" directed by Jesse Eisenberg staring Julian Moore and Paul Giamatti DP Drew Daniels which we are scanning the dallies.

Tomorrow myself and some local DPS are going to TCS and will be testing the non remjet 7219 7207,7213 and 50D on a Arri 416 these DP s are concerned because most 16mm cameras have chrome backplates.

I doubt that Kodak will raise the price of MP Stock, it already is quite costly and if they raised it to still prices I don't think they will sell nearly as much. We are seeing more and more clients shooting film whenever the budget allows.

Edited April 23 by John Rizzo

Dirk DeJonghe · April 23

I received a couple of experimental 35mm/1000ft rolls for testing. It was non-remjet 500T; It worked well in the processor, the colour balance was not yet correct, but the overall look was very clean, less sparkle;

Simon Wyss · April 23

I’d welcome colour stocks without soot gelatine back layer. Of course will Kodak include an opaque subbing that gets discoloured at processing. At last. Black-and-white films either have a dyed base or a subbing, Fomapan Reversal, ORWO PF 2 version 3.

Robin Phillips · April 23

21 hours ago, John Rizzo said:

Yes that is true, so far on the east coast 3 major movies are shooting it in 35mm.

According to Kodak they built into the emulsion an additional layer of Silver to take the rem jets place.

"The Drama" which rapped 2 months ago

Spielberg's new movie currently shooting

and

"No One Cares" directed by Jesse Eisenberg staring Julian Moore and Paul Giamatti DP Drew Daniels which we are scanning the dallies.

Tomorrow myself and some local DPS are going to TCS and will be testing the non remjet 7219 7207,7213 and 50D on a Arri 416 these DP s are concerned because most 16mm cameras have chrome backplates.

I doubt that Kodak will raise the price of MP Stock, it already is quite costly and if they raised it to still prices I don't think they will sell nearly as much. We are seeing more and more clients shooting film whenever the budget allows.

if you are able to report back at all on how 16mm performs on the 416 please do.

John Rizzo · April 23

Will do, We shot 7219 today non remjet getting processed tonight. Once we scan the footage I will post it for all interested parties to check out. 100 feet on the 416 and 100 feet with a Aaton xtr. Lens and f stops will be on he slate for each setup.

we also shot 450 feet of 35mm Portra.

Tyler Purcell · April 24

On 4/22/2025 at 5:12 PM, John Rizzo said:

Tomorrow myself and some local DPS are going to TCS and will be testing the non remjet 7219 7207,7213 and 50D on a Arri 416 these DP s are concerned because most 16mm cameras have chrome backplates.

Aaton 16mm cameras don't have chrome backplates, they are specifically designed to deal with black and white film which has no remjet. Arri cameras have chromed backplates, across the board. I know some people did make modified pressure plates which were black, but there aren't enough to go around. My main concern are the Arri 2Cs, Arri 35-3, 425, 235, Arricam, Moviecam, 416, SR, etc. We have some ideas on how to solve this problem, but without tests, I don't know if it's worth it. Currently Kodak has new stock available, but they won't give me a roll to test.

Dom Jaeger · April 24

1 hour ago, Tyler Purcell said:

Aaton 16mm cameras don't have chrome backplates, they are specifically designed to deal with black and white film which has no remjet.

Don't Aaton XTR mag pressure plates have two chrome strips running down the middle? LTR mags have four chrome strips if I recall.

AatonXTRmag.jpg.968952390f88a232ce1fbf55863a1e77.jpg

1 hour ago, Tyler Purcell said:

My main concern are the Arri 2Cs, Arri 35-3s, ..

Arri 2C pressure plates aren't chromed behind the film, only around the outside of the frame.

If memory serves Clairmont Camera had a bunch of 35-3, 435 and Arricam pressure plates blackened for use with B&W film. I wonder what happened to them.

Giray Izcan · April 24

4 hours ago, John Rizzo said:

Will do, We shot 7219 today non remjet getting processed tonight. Once we scan the footage I will post it for all interested parties to check out. 100 feet on the 416 and 100 feet with a Aaton xtr. Lens and f stops will be on he slate for each setup.

we also shot 450 feet of 35mm Portra.

I didn't know you could buy Portra in bulk like that. Can you get and shoot Portra in 1000ft in any 35 camera? Stills film perfs cause problems with motion picture film cameras as far as I know.

Robert Houllahan · April 24

43 minutes ago, Giray Izcan said:

I didn't know you could buy Portra in bulk like that. Can you get and shoot Portra in 1000ft in any 35 camera? Stills film perfs cause problems with motion picture film cameras as far as I know.

Kodak is making it as a new MP stock now with some changes like BH perfs.

Giray Izcan · April 24

All of the Portra line? When is it supposed to hit the market do you know by any chance? I wonder if it's going to be an expensive item like the Ektachrome or just the regular negative price..

Tyler Purcell · April 24

2 hours ago, Dom Jaeger said:

Don't Aaton XTR mag pressure plates have two chrome strips running down the middle? LTR mags have four chrome strips if I recall.

That actually doesn't effect anything evidently.

2 hours ago, Dom Jaeger said:

If memory serves Clairmont Camera had a bunch of 35-3, 435 and Arricam pressure plates blackened for use with B&W film. I wonder what happened to them.

Yea, well Andree didn't get them, he's trying to get some made. So who knows.

Jefta Varwijk · April 24

20 hours ago, Dirk DeJonghe said:

I received a couple of experimental 35mm/1000ft rolls for testing. It was non-remjet 500T; It worked well in the processor, the colour balance was not yet correct, but the overall look was very clean, less sparkle;

Hi Dirk, thanks for sharing!

I’d be curious what you mean with “less sparkle”. And would you say ‘clean’ is more subtle grain, or just cleaner on the dust-front, so to speak?

i’m also curious about the rigidity of the filmstock: is it the same? And has thickness changed?

i hope i’d still be able to shoot 500fps 16mm 2 perf 😶

Dirk DeJonghe · April 24

Tyler,

We had problems with Aaton XTR with 7222, it shows up as vertical stripes on panning shots over a grey wall for example; this can happen if you overexpose. The light striking the emulsion is travelling through the emulsion and getting reflected off the shiny parts of the film pressure plate and exposing the emulsion from the back a second time. Never a problem with regular rem-jet color negatives.

This happened on Aaton 35 as well (5222 only). Also the Lasergraphics film recorder's pressure plate had to be blackened because the diagonal pattern would show up on direct to color positive filmouts.

Simon Wyss · April 24

I find it surprising that there’s halo with Kodak 5222 and 7222. The stock has a dyed base which should suppress excess light enough on its travel two times through it.

With the filmouts you have a light point intensity that never exists behind a lens or a negative on a printer.

Tyler Purcell · April 24

9 hours ago, Dirk DeJonghe said:

We had problems with Aaton XTR with 7222, it shows up as vertical stripes on panning shots over a grey wall for example; this can happen if you overexpose. The light striking the emulsion is travelling through the emulsion and getting reflected off the shiny parts of the film pressure plate and exposing the emulsion from the back a second time. Never a problem with regular rem-jet color negatives.

I've shot a bit of 7222, never noticed it. I guess it depends on exposure. Also 7222 is a different backing, Kodak has already said they're using a silver backing on this new stock to prevent the added halation, so hopefully it works? It looks more like the Ektachrome backing and having shot a bunch of that, never seen it either.

The Aaton 35mm cameras have chromed pressure plates, so that would be a problem.

I need to first see the results and get feedback from people using chromed gates. If there are no real issues, then we'll just all move on. If there are issues and people have cash to deal with them, I can easily have new pressure plates for the Aaton cameras made, no big deal. I have all the specs, it would be a cinch to model them and get them made with DLC coating. I'm pretty sure there won't be any issues, because the stock is currently being used on a wide array of productions without modified cameras evidently.

Dirk DeJonghe · April 25

If you take a piece of 7222 and hold to in front of your eyes, you can see through it, if you take a piece of 7219, you see nothing.

I don't have any of the test rolls without remjet left to test with the Aaton 35.

Uli Meyer · April 25

On 4/24/2025 at 12:11 AM, John Rizzo said:

Will do, We shot 7219 today non remjet getting processed tonight. Once we scan the footage I will post it for all interested parties to check out. 100 feet on the 416 and 100 feet with a Aaton xtr. Lens and f stops will be on he slate for each setup.

we also shot 450 feet of 35mm Portra.

Can't wait to see that! Thank you for sharing when you do 😉

Kenny N Suleimanagich · April 25

Available here: 7219 Non-Remjet 16mm Stock Test

Tyler Purcell · April 25

52 minutes ago, Kenny N Suleimanagich said:

Available here: 7219 Non-Remjet 16mm Stock Test

Seems to hold up fine. I really wanna see what 50D looks like. One of my friends tested it last week, but no results yet. I think the higher speed stocks, will have less of a problem.